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Searcy gets ready for finale of Small Business Revolution

Searcy is preparing for the big finale of Small Business Revolution nearly four months after winning a $500,000 grand prize and a spot on the hit Hulu Show.

SEARCY, Ark. — Searcy is preparing for the big finale of Small Business Revolution nearly four months after winning a 500-thousand dollar grand prize and a spot on the hit Hulu Show.

In the months since Searcy beat out thousands of small towns across America to win a spot on Small Business Revolution, the show's experts have been making over six local small businesses.

"It was a lot of new things for us to learn and sort through,” Josie Braun said.

At Savor and Sip, coffee and crepes take the spotlight. Owner Josie Braun said the specialty coffee shop may have only opened up less than two years ago, but it is one of six businesses receiving a makeover with Small Business Revolution.

RELATED: Community creates 'Small Business Revolution' Fund, helping Searcy businesses not selected for show

"It was kind of nerve-wracking to know we got picked out of 200 businesses in Searcy,” Braun said.

Braun said the shop's space is already newly renovated.

"I think a lot of people when we were chosen that was their biggest thing, they were like you clearly don't need the help,” she said.

But she said as a new business owner with her wife, she needed a lot of help behind the scenes.

"Neither of us had ever owned a business and neither of us has actually worked in a restaurant either,” she said.

Braun said the show helped with the financial and advertising sides of the business.

"We didn't have a sign on the front of the building, just the back so they put a new sign on the front. Gave us new window decals,” she said.

RELATED: Hulu's 'Small Business Revolution' announces Searcy's 6 small businesses to be featured on show

Heather Kemper is a coordinator for Searcy Beats and Eats. She said the show's finale is this Friday in partnership with Beats and Eats. Kemper hopes Friday's celebration brings back the excitement for the show.

"Of course a lot of the excitement we felt in January when we won has kind of naturally declined,” Kemper said. "Small Business Revolution brought us together and we want to remember that and honor that."

Friday's Beats and Eats celebration will start at 5 p.m. in downtown Searcy. Ty Pennington and Amanda Brinkman will be there for an announcement at 8 p.m.

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